Paddy Donoghue, born in Walkin Street in 1892, provided a link with the earliest Dicksboro teams. He was educated at the Christian Brothers' School, James' St, and played his first games with them. His practice ground, together with all the youngsters of that district, was the Fair Green, and to his many hard encounters there, may be attributed his prowess in more important arenas later. He was a founder member of the club and played on the 1910 Junior Championship winning team.By virtue of their winning this Championship, Dicksboro had the selection of the Kilkenny Junior team. Twelve Dicksboro men played on this Kilkenny team (17 aside ) which won the Leinster Final of that year, beating Dublin in a replay. They were: Bill Walsh, Jack Ayres, Mick Nugent, M Brennan, Anthony McCormack, Joe Purcell, Paddy Donoghue, Paddy Trehy, J Brennan, John Dermody, Jim Hoyne, and W Lennon. ( All Ireland Junior Championships only began the following year, 1912 ). These were Paddy Donoghue's first important matches and he played with Dicksboro for the rest of his career, winning two senior county championships ( 1923 and 1926 ) with them.

He first played with his county in 1917, and played each year subsequently until 1924, with the exception of 1919, when, working in Wexford, he was not eligible to play for Kilkenny. He was on the All Ireland team in 1922 when Kilkenny beat Tipperary to win their first All Ireland after a lapse of nine years. Tipp had been leading by a goal with three minutes remaining when Paddy Donoghue and Dick Tobin scored two goals to win the game. He won one All Irelan, two Leinster senior and two Leinster Junior medals, together with county an other competition trophies. His position was generally left half forward and he was a towering influence during Dicksboro's formative years.

Michael Collins addresses the Kilkenny team before the Leinster Final against Dublin, Sept 1921.From left: Paddy Donoghue(Dicksboro), Mattie Power(Dicksboro), Dick Grace(Tullaroan), Michael Joyce(Callan), Martin Egan(Threecastles), Bill Kenny(Lisdowney), Jack Holohan(from Johnstown, played with Tullaroan), Michael Collins and Harry Boland. Collins and Boland(Chairman, Dublin County Board and Sinn Féin TD for Roscommon), though great friends, found themselves on opposite sides in the Civil War which would claim both of their lives within a year.